Method of and device for preventing freezing of motor-cooling systems



y 1927' H. R. BERNARD METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR PREVENTING FREEZING OE MOTOR COOLING SYSTEMS Original Filed Aug. 26, 1922 Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,634,394 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. BERNARD, or New YORK, n. Y.

METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR PREVENTING FREEZING F MbTOR-COOLING SYSTEMS.-

Application filed August 26, 1922, Serial No. 584,576. Renewed October 28, 1926.

with motor vehicles, it being universal knowledge that such systems are apt to freeze if the car is left standing in cold weather.

The present invention provides a method, as well as an apparatus, whereby the heat generated through the operation of the motor, while running, is made available to preclude freezing of the cooling system after the motor has ceased to run and become 1nactive for a relatively prolonged period.

The method of the present invention depends for its operation upon the characteristics of certain normally crystalline chemicals which, when heated to a predetermlned temperature, lose their crystalline form and become liquid and remain in such llqllld form through further rises in temperature. Chemicals of this character have the property of slowly cooling and, in returningto their initial and normal crystalline form, give off the heat of crystallization in a relatively slow and substantially constant manner. Baryta-hydrate, also known as baryta-hydroxide or barium hydromde (Ba(HO) +8H O) exemplifies a chemical which may be used in this connection. If such a chemical is housed within a closed container which is jacketed and the jacket included in the circulatory system of the motor, the operation of the motor will heat the water of the cooling system and the heat from such water will be imparted to the chemical which as its temperature rises absorbs the heat and changes from crystalline to liquid form, the heat from the water belng taken up by the chemical and effecting this change. This action continues until the motor is stopped.

The water of the circulating system will then gradually cool and as it cools, the heat from the chemical will be slowly given up to such water and will retard the cooling of the water so as to render the cooling action very slow whereby-it will expand over a much longer period than is required to elfect the change from the crystalline into the liquid form. The crystallizing action takes place slowly and during this operation the heat is slowly given off and is absorbed by the water of the circulating system.

In practice the container for the chemlcal is positioned in substantially the lowest part of the system so that during the giving up of the heat from the chen'iical to the water, the heating of the water resulting from this operation will cause a circulation of the water throughout the entire system in accordance with the well known thermosiphon principles and freezing of the system is thereby avoided through a relatively long period.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be un derstood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a View showing the inner container in elevation and the outer container in central section.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the inner container, and,

Figure 3 shows a system embodying this invention.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 3, I have shown the invention as included in the water circulating pipe leading from the radiator R to the water jacket WV of the motor. The device is shown as embodying outer and inner closed containers of rectangular form spaced apart to provide an intermediate jacket. The outer container is designated A, the inner container 13 and the jacket or space between the walls of these containers 0. The water circulating pipes P leading from the radiator to the device and from the device to the water jacket of the motor are connected to the interior of the jacket 0 by couplings associated with nipples D carried by the outer container.

VVit-hin the inner container B is housed the chemical and in practice I find that baryta-hydrate is highly eflicient and practical when used in this connection on account of the fact that it is not overboiling or undercooling. That is to say, it will invariably pass back into its normal state, or recrystallize, after being melted and it will not undercool, i. e., be susceptible to reoccurrences in its change of form without deterioration. I may use an overboiling or underboiling compound or mixture, but overill boiling com ounds are not convenient because of their liability to suspend recrystallization on account of absorption of too much heat in which event recrystallization will have to be started in the container by some outside agency. The advantage of using and the expressed preference for'barytahydroxide or barium hydroxide is because it does not over-boil or undercoo'l and therefore requires no attention after it has once been placed within and tightly sealed in the interior container. Thereafter it will operate in an entirely automatic manner.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, I have illustrated the structural details of which the inner and outer containers may partake although it will of course be un- Y derstood that c anges in form, size or proportion of details of construction may be made without departing from this invention. a

In these figures, the outer container A is shown as having an open top which is normally sealed by a cover F held in place by suitable screws S illustrated as wing screws to enable them to be readily manipu ated by hand. The inner container B is received within the outer container and is spaced therefrom by means of projections E at its eight corners and by four supporting feet G to provide an intermediate space oryacket c. The outer container is shown as rovided with nipples l) for connecting the evice in a cooling system.

In assembling the construction, the inner container is positioned within the outer container and the cover F thereupon screwed down on a suitable gasket which will be air tight and will, preclude leakage of the circulating fluid. This having been accomplished, the installation is complete and the motor is ready for operation.

As the motor operates, the Water or other cooling fluid of the cooling system becomes heated and the normal crystalline chemical within the inner container absorbs the heat from the Water and as its temperature rises partakes of liquid form.

After the motor is stopped and the circulatory system begins to cool down, the heat which has been absorbed through the change of the chemical from a crystalline to a liquid form is given oil by the chemical as this change is reversed and-as the chemr cal slowly returns into its crystalline form.

The device is preferably positioned in such part of the system that as the water in the jacket 0 is heated by the heat given oil by the chemical, it will rise in one part of the system and cooler water will enter the jacket from another part of the system, so as to thereby set up a circulation throughout the system which will eliminate freezing so long as an a preciable amount of heat is given ofi by t e chemical.

Figure 3 015 the drawingsshows the device as associated with a thermosiphon system, although in practice a pump may be included in the system as is commonly the case in man makes of cars without in anvwise preclu ing the proper operation of the present invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The hereindescribed method which consists in utilizing the heat derived from an engine, while operatin to change a normally crystalline material into a liquid, and utilizing the heat given off by such material in returning to its crystalline form to maintain the engine in operative condition during periods of non-operation.

2. The hereindescribed method which con-' sists in storing up the heat derived from an engine while operating by melting a crystalline material, thereafter 'sto ping the engine, and utilizing the heat given oil by the material, during its return to crystalline form, to maintain the engine in operative condition.

3. The hereindescribed method which consists in circulating the cooling fluid of an engine about an enclosed body of a crystalline material while the engine is running for the purpose of utilizing the heat in said fluid to change the material from crystalline to liquid form, and utilizing the heat given 05 by said material during its return to crystalline form to preclude freezing of such fluid while the engine is at rest.

4. The hereindescribed method which consists in utilizing the heat in the cooling fluid of an engine to decrystallize a normally crystalline material While the engine is operating, and utilizing the heat given ofi during the return of said material to crystalline form to retard the cooling of the cooling fluid after the engine has ceased to operate.

5. The hereindescribed method which consists in causing the cooling fluid in the cooling system of an engine to flow about, an enclosed body of a normally crystalline material, while the engine is operating, for the pur ose of utilizing the heat in said fluid to ecrystallize said material, and utilizing the heat given oh by the material during its return to crystalline form, after the engine has ceased to operate to retard the cooling of the said fluid and maintain a circulating thereof.

6. A device of the character described embodying a sealed jacketed receptacle containing a material normall crystalline but adapted to decrystallize w en subjected to the heat of the fluid in the cooling system of an operating engine, and connections associated with the jacket whereby the interior of the jacket may be placed in communication with the cooling system of the engine.

7. A device of the character described embodying a closed sealed receptacle containing material normally crystalline but adapted to decrystallize when subjected to the heat of the fluid in the cooling s stem ofan 0 erating engine, and fluid circu ating channe associate with the receptacle and through which the fluid in said system is 10 adapted to circulate, whereby the heat from said fluid may be availed of to raise the temperature of said material while the engine is operating and heat from said material returned to' the fluid after the engine ceases to 15 operate.

HENRY R. BERNARD. 

